The 'Cross bike is built.  The celebratory Duvel is poured., and to steal a phrase or two - it's time for mud, cowbells, barriers, crashing, and rub on "knee warmer."

Not sure if I like the SRAM double tap shifters yet.  I can see how it's really easy to forget the operation direction and grab a wrong gear.

Now I just have to remember how to jump off the damn thing at speed into a full run....

On to news from the commute -

Photo from the commute Thursday:


Not a bad way to start the day. 

The train this week was less than stellar, so I'll chalk this week up to "Learn to keep your mouth shut when it's going well."

For those that may be reading this and are not from SoCal, most of Simi Valley, some of LA, and Camp Pendelton in San Diego were(are) on fire last week.  As a result train service was slightly "disrupted." 

I didn't notice Monday, as it was the last Monday night TT and I drove to SB both ways.  Turns out, the Monday P.M. train was cancelled and I had no idea.  So, I ride out to the station Tuesday AM, change into my work clothes, and sitdown to wait for the train.  The automated lady voice in the scrolling timer sign then announced that my train for that morning was "annulled."  My first thought was, "How the hell do you 'annull' a train?  I can understand that a train is cancelled, but 'annulled'?"  Then I realized that I needed to get back to the house, and drive in again.  Jenelle was able to pick me up and I was only ~5min late to work when all said and done.

Catch the train home Tuesday night, it's ~35min late.  AM Wednesday on time, Wednesday PM ~40min late.  AM Thursday train was OK again, Thursday PM ~35min late again.  AM Friday on time.,  P.M. ~40min late AGAIN!!  Hitched a ride home with friends instead - pissed. 

The commute is really frustrated by freight trains.  Apparently Amtrak owns no track between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.  This means Union-Pacific pushes Amtrak to the siding rails, as somehow freight has priority.  This isn't supposed to work this way but, UP make their trains so long they can't fit on the siding rails and force us out of the way.  Bummer. 

Hopefully week three is better?!

Other signs you know it's Fall?  BEERFEST!!  And beerfest means Lederhosen.  YEAH!!

This pic was from the Firestone-Walker Oaktoberfest in Paso Robles a couple of weeks ago:


My frauline tolerates so much bullshit from me sometimes. 

She's a relatively good sport about it usually too!!

J.